Oak tree named ‘Betterred’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Oak tree named ‘Betterred’, characterized by its upwardly sweeping lateral branches forming a pyramidal plant form; vigorous growth habit; and glossy dark purple-colored leaves that maintain glossy dark coloration into the early summer.

Botanical designation: Quercus nuttallii.

Cultivar denomination: ‘BETTERRED’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Oaktree, botanically known as Quercus nuttallii, commercially referred toas Nuttall Oak or Red Oak and hereinafter referred to by the name‘Betterred’.

The new Oak tree originated from an open-pollination in Oconee County,Ga. of an unnamed selection of Quercus nuttallii, not patented, as thefemale, or seed, parent with an unknown selection of Quercus nuttalliias the male, or pollen, parent. The new Oak tree was discovered andselected by the Inventor as a single plant from within the progeny ofthe stated open-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment inOconee County, Ga. in May, 2007.

Asexual reproduction of the new Oak tree by softwood cuttings in acontrolled environment in Oconee County, Ga. since 2008 has shown thatthe unique features of this new Oak tree are stable and reproduced trueto type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Trees of the new Oak have not been observed under all possibleenvironmental and cultural conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhatwith variations in environmental conditions such as temperature andlight intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Betterred’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘Betterred’ as a new and distinct Oak tree:

-   -   1. Upwardly sweeping lateral branches forming a pyramidal plant        form.    -   2. Vigorous growth habit.    -   3. Glossy dark purple-colored leaves that maintain glossy dark        coloration into the early summer.

Trees of the new Oak can be compared to plants of the female parentselection. Trees of the new Oak differ primarily from trees of thefemale parent selection in branch orientation as trees of the new Oakhave more upwardly sweeping lateral branches than trees of the femaleparent selection.

Trees of the new Oak can also be compared to plants of Quercus nuttallii‘QNSTD’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 16,254. Trees of the new Oakand ‘QNSTD’ differ primarily in branch orientation and plant form astrees of the new Oak have upwardly sweeping lateral branches whereastrees of ‘QNSTD’ have laterally-orientated lateral branches.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new Oak tree showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Oak tree.

The photographs on the first sheet comprise side perspective views oftypical trees of ‘Betterred’ and ‘QNSTD’ grown during the winter in anoutdoor nursery showing the differences in branch orientation and plantform.

The photograph on the second sheet comprises a side perspective view ofa typical tree of ‘Betterred’ grown during the spring in an outdoornursery.

The photograph on the third sheet is a close-up view of the uppersurface of typical leaves of ‘Betterred’ grown during the spring.

The photograph on the fourth sheet is a close-up view of the lowersurface of typical leaves of ‘Betterred’ grown during the spring.

The photograph on the fifth sheet is a close-up view of the uppersurface of typical leaves of ‘Betterred’ grown during the summer.

The photograph on the sixth sheet is a close-up view of the lowersurface of typical leaves of ‘Betterred’ grown during the summer.

The photograph on the seventh sheet is a close-up view of a typical treeof ‘Betterred’ grown during the spring in an outdoor nursery.

The photograph on the eighth sheet is a close-up view of a typical treeof ‘Betterred’ grown during the autumn in an outdoor nursery.

The photograph on the ninth sheet is a close-up view of a section oftrunk of a typical tree of ‘Betterred’ grown in an outdoor nursery.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurementsand values describe plants grown in an outdoor nursery in PulaskiCounty, Ga. and under cultural practices typical of Oak tree commercialproduction. Trees were four years old when the photographs anddescription were taken. In the following description, color referencesare made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition,except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Quercus nuttallii ‘Betterred’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Unnamed selection of Quercus            nuttallii, not patented.        -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Unknown selection of Quercus            nuttallii, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By softwood cuttings.        -   Root description.—Fibrous.        -   Time to rooting.—About three to four weeks.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant form and growth habit.—Upright tree with upwardly            sweeping lateral branches forming a pyramidal plant form;            freely branching habit with numerous lateral branches            developing per plant; vigorous growth habit; flowers have            not been observed on plants of the new Oak tree.        -   Plant height.—About 7.92 meters.        -   Plant diameter.—About 4.27 meters.        -   Height to width ratio.—About 1.9.        -   Branch orientation.—Lower canopy branches, about 43° from            central leader; upper canopy branches, about 31° from            central leader.        -   Lateral branch color.—Developing branches, close to N77A;            mature branches, close to between 166A and 152A mottled with            close to 198D.        -   Trunk diameter, about 15 cm above ground level.—About 18.42            cm.        -   Immature bark.—Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to            198A with patches of close to 198D. Lenticels: Arrangement:            Scattered or in vertical strands. Length: About 3 mm. Color:            Close to 199D.        -   Mature bark.—Texture: Rough with shallow ridges and furrows.            Color: Close to 198A with patches of close to 198D.        -   Leaf arrangement.—Alternate, simple.        -   Leaf length.—About 10.2 cm to 22.9 cm.        -   Leaf width.—About 5.1 cm to 12.7 cm.        -   Leaf shape.—Roughly ovate to elliptic with five to nine deep            narrow lobes; margins, entire; sinuses rounded; apex, acute            to acuminate; base, attenuate; venation, pinnate.        -   Leaf texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth, glabrous.        -   Leaf luster, upper and lower surfaces.—Glossy.        -   Leaf color, spring.—Upper surface: Close to N77A. Lower            surface: Close to 146A and N77A.        -   Leaf color, summer.—Upper surface: Close to 137A. Lower            surface: Close to 146A.        -   Leaf color, autumn.—Upper and lower surfaces: Close to 13B,            47A and 22A.        -   Leaf petioles.—Length: About 1.59 cm to 2.22 cm. Texture,            upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color, upper and            lower surfaces: Close to N77A.        -   Leaf buds.—Length: About 3.18 cm to 6.35 cm. Texture:            Pubescent; margins, ciliate. Color: Close to 200C mottled            with close to 198D.-   Winter hardiness: Trees of the new Oak have been observed to be    hardy to USDA Hardiness Zone 8a.-   Pathogen & pest resistance: Trees of the new Oak have been not    observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Oak trees.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Oak tree named ‘Betterred’ asillustrated and described.